Chapter 116: Wind and Clouds Rising (1)

The ten-mile camp of the Xishan Navy at sunset, the military flags were fluttering, and the momentum was extraordinary. The soldiers' excellent equipment and fierce morale, four thousand troops and more than three hundred warships, all showed that this second-largest garrison, second only to the Chu capital navy, had strength that could not be underestimated.

In the main camp, the young man with an elegant expression looked at both sides, coughed lightly with a slightly awkward look, and said: "Marquis Helian, Mr. Shusun, tomorrow... are we really going to enter the Chu capital? Huang Fei is now in charge of the palace, holding all power. How can he agree to let me succeed? There is also the wolf-like army of the Lie Feng Cavalry. Most of the court officials also obey the Jun Mansion. This trip is afraid of unexpected events!"

Shusun Yi entered the Xishan Daying again, and at the same time sent back the Second Young Master of Chu.

Shusun Yi, who was drinking tea nearby, raised his eyes slightly, looked at Han Hui who was hesitant, put down his teacup and smiled, intervening, "The Marquis's words are very true. Moreover, the Di Du has officially issued an edict to confer the title on the Young Master, and this time the King himself has come forward. Everything has been arranged properly, so the Young Master need not worry."

"Sigh, the military advisor does not know," Han Hui shook his head and sighed, "That is the Liefeng Cavalry. The Western Mountain Navy and the Royal Army combined do not even have one or two parts of their strength... This... sigh! Things have come to this, there is nothing to be done, let the Marquis make the final decision."

Helian Yiren gave a wink, and Helian Xiao took people to escort Han Hui to rest. Watching this future King of Chu leave, Helian Yiren gave a light snort containing disdain, and said, "The military advisor is right. If the Second Young Master knew the true layout of this trip, I'm afraid he would be scared out of his wits. When the two armies fight, I hope he won't affect the morale."

Shusun Yi's lips curled up, "This may not be a bad thing. The Second Young Master is weak and cowardly; the Marquis should be satisfied."

Helian Yiren was startled, then laughed out loud, "Indeed, indeed! For this, I must thank the King for his great kindness. A scheme within a scheme, a plan within a plan, the King's arrangements are truly wonderful. However... there is one thing I would like to ask the military advisor."

Shusun Yi said, "A scheme within a scheme, a plan within a plan, all require the Marquis's cooperation. The King has high hopes for the Marquis. If the Marquis has any concerns, just say them."

Helian Yiren stood up and made a gesture, personally sending Shusun Yi out of the camp, and asked in a low voice, "One mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, one country cannot tolerate two masters. How exactly does the King intend to deal with Princess Han Xi? If he really uses her to exchange for Huang Fei, in case it gives the other side an opportunity..."

Shusun Yi naturally understood the implication of his words, smiled and remained calm, "The Marquis can rest assured. From now on, there will be no Princess Han Xi in the Chu Guo, only the Left Madam of the Yuyang Gong in the Di Du, the sister of the new King of Chu, deeply favored by the King."

Helian Yiren understood, and amidst their laughter, the two bowed and parted ways.

"Take it away! I won't eat, I just won't eat! You all get out!" Han Xi threw a bowl of hot soup on the ground in a rage. Qing Ming and Luan Ying had been coaxing and persuading her for a day, and finally lost all patience, "You... if you don't eat, then forget it!" They stood up, unable to bear it any longer while holding the food, and just as they turned around, a figure in green clothes suddenly came into view.

The person who had arrived at some unknown time in the twilight had silk patterns on their clothes that were as ethereal as the last trace of cloud light on the horizon. The figure stood quietly, without a sound.

Upon meeting those deep eyes, Qing Ming and Luan Ying both lowered their heads, "King, she..." The Eastern Emperor just raised his hand slightly, signaling them to withdraw.

Han Xi faced the bed, sitting with her knees hugged. Hearing the footsteps approaching, she couldn't help but say angrily, "I told you all to get out, didn't you hear me!" Unexpectedly, when she turned her head, she was stunned, and after a long while, she said with a trembling voice, "Zi Hao... brother..."

The evening shadow slanted in, half-illuminating the curtains. Zi Hao paused before the bed and smiled faintly, "I heard them say you haven't eaten anything. What's wrong?"

Han Xi bit her red lips tightly, tears vaguely welling up in her eyes. She straightened up and said, "Brother Zi Hao... you are finally willing to see me!"

Zi Hao just looked at her like this, his expression peaceful as if he were slightly tired, but there was a cold gentleness in his voice, "If you want to see Me, you can do so at any time. Just come to Me directly, why bother losing your temper with them?"

Han Xi subconsciously reached out, grabbed his sleeve, and said aggrievedly, "But they said you were in seclusion to heal your wounds and wouldn't see anyone."

Zi Hao smiled, "They didn't lie to you. I was indeed in seclusion for two days."

Han Xi was slightly startled, wanting to say something but stopping. Zi Hao had already sat down beside her and asked, "You want to see Me so much, is there something wrong?"

Han Xi stared at the man's clear and handsome outline in front of her without blinking, the sleeve in her hand gripped tighter and tighter, and suddenly she said in a low voice, "Brother Zi Hao, tell me, tell me the truth, was it really you who killed my royal brother?"

The girl's low, sobbing voice seemed to have a hint of pleading. The twilight and evening light sprinkled lightly on his lapels, casting deep and shallow traces in the depths of Zi Hao's eyes, a quiet stream flowing silently, without waves. Facing Han Xi's gaze, which was full of hope but also contained a hint of fear, he blinked slightly and shook his head, "No."

"Ah!" Han Xi widened her eyes, looking at him eagerly, and then asked again, "Then, was it you who sent Sister Zi Rao to the Shangyang Palace to kill the royal sister-in-law and the little prince?"

Zi Hao said faintly, "Zi Rao did not kill anyone. The person you saw in the Shangyang Palace was someone else."

"Someone else... could it be that someone was pretending to be Sister Zi Rao? Then why would Sister Zi Rao admit it?" Han Xi was full of confusion and continued to ask.

Under his calm face, Zi Hao's lips tightened imperceptibly. From Han Xi's angle, it looked like a beautiful light arc formed in the twilight. After a while, she heard him say, "She, that was just being angry with Huang Fei, a misunderstanding."

"So that's how it is!" Han Xi was immediately relieved, both surprised and happy, not doubting his answer at all, or perhaps in her heart, she simply did not want to believe that there were any other answers. "Since it's a misunderstanding, then you and Huang Fei won't be at war with each other again, right? But..." She pouted and said, "Why did you send someone to bring me to the Western Mountain Temple? There are Buddha statues everywhere here, it's so annoying."

Zi Hao's gaze swept over her beautiful face, and he smiled faintly, "I remember promising you that when I returned to the Di Du, I would take you along to have fun."

Han Xi's long eyelashes were still stained with tear marks, but her eyes suddenly revealed a crystalline brilliance because of his words, and she shouted, "You are going to take me to the Di Du!"

"Don't you remember? The royal decree I issued at the same time as Zi Rao's wedding, the royal Left Madam cannot stay in the Chu Guo anymore."

Zi Hao tilted his head slightly, and a faint smile was reflected in Han Xi's clear eyes, rippling gently. "Ah!" Han Xi grabbed his hand and pulled it back as if electrocuted, her cheeks flying red like flowing clouds, and she lowered her head and whispered, "Brother Zi Hao... you, what are you saying..."

The man's warm and moist voice in her ear was low, like a whisper in the middle of the night, "If you don't eat for two days, you won't have the strength to follow Me to the Di Du."

Han Xi's beautiful face was shy, and she couldn't say a word, but she couldn't help but peek at him quietly. She heard him smile lightly beside her, cough slightly, raise his hand to brush the hair scattered on her shoulders, and turn to say to the outside, "Li Si."

The curtain was lifted, and Li Si entered with a tray, offering it with both hands, "Princess, this is the medicinal porridge that the Master specifically ordered to be prepared for you. See if it suits your taste."

Zi Hao personally took the porridge bowl and tested the temperature. His sleeves had the cold breath of moonlight melting glaciers and clear streams. Han Xi could not hide the smile on her brows and eyes, obediently took it, took a small sip, looked up at Zi Hao and smiled, and then slowly drank the porridge.

Li Si took the empty bowl, bowed slightly, and quietly exited, stopping outside the room after letting down the curtain. She heard Han Xi vaguely ask, "Brother Zi Hao, are there really fun strange beasts in the Di Du? You promised me you would help me find a spiritual beast as cute as Xue Zhan."

Zi Hao answered something vaguely, and Han Xi's voice became lower and lower. The beautiful figure leaned in the quiet embrace of the man in green, and as she spoke, she actually fell into a deep sleep just like that.

Li Si sighed silently. The medicinal effect of the Naihe Grass of Detachment would make Han Xi sleep soundly without any consciousness for seven days. By the time she woke up again, she should already be in the soft and gorgeous golden tent of the Yuyang Gong, but at that time, who knows what the fate of the Chu Guo will be?

Sometimes, perhaps not knowing is the greatest happiness.

Li Si stood there alone in a daze for a while, vaguely seeing the Master cover Han Xi with a quilt and stand up, moving forward to lift the curtain.

Zi Hao's figure was bathed in soft light, looking somewhat tired. The twilight was blurred, and his expression was silent. Li Si called out "Master" softly. The moment the green clothes drifted to her side, she suddenly heard him say in a low voice, "Li Si, apply the medicine for Me."

Li Si was startled and shocked at the same time, reaching out to help almost without thinking. At the touch of her fingertips, she was shocked to find that his clothes were already soaked with cold sweat.

A trace of blood stained the patterns on his silk sleeves, as if a sharp mark had been tightened into his heart.

The legacy of the Witch Clan's Heart Gu, the price of the trip to Dafei Chuan.

(End of chapter)